CHALLENGES AND POSSIBILITIES OF PROMOTING CONSUMER EDUCATION A presentation of the achievements of the work of Nordic-Estonian Consumer Education Group

Cooperation In 2007 an informal cooperation group The Nordic- Estonian Consumer Education group (NECE group) was established. Members of the group are: Consumer Protection Board of Estonia, Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority, Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion in Norway and Consumer Agency of Sweden. The main purpose of the NECE group is to promote consumer education, co-ordinate projects and create bi-lateral networks (universities and state authorities) within the field of consumer education.

Achievements Teaching Consumer Competences – A Strategy for Consumer Education. Published by The Nordic Council of Ministers (TemaNord2009:58) Consumer competence for children and adolescents-objectives for teaching (2014) Being partner to OECD: – Conference (Paris 2008) – OECD recommendation on consumer education of the Committee on Consumer Policy Being partner to The European Commission by initiating a Consumer Education Expert Group

Case: Finnish curriculum reform NECE group influence on the curriculum reform – NECE documents have been used as background in lobbying and writing statements – Age project work FCCA in the renewal process – Activities in all levels of decision making – National core curriculum was drawn up in open, interactive and cooperative processes – Invitation from NBE to act as member of expert group (home economics) – Offering ideas for age relevant teaching in consumer education area in curriculum reform

Benefits of the cooperation between countries Exchange of experience, since there is a lack of research on the development of consumer competences and of consumer education. Cooperation can reveal new trends. Development of new material on consumer education Giving input to the European Commission’s Consumer Education Expert Group